PCSO arrests three on marijuana-related charges

The three men arrested in the case, Mario Cazares-Cazares (left), Francisco Ortega-Pinto (center) and Obeth Aldaco-Pinuelos are shown. (Pinal County Sheriff's Office)

Three men were arrested Monday on marijuana-related charges after they allegedly attempted to flee deputies, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office said in a release.

Deputies received a call that two men were loading what appeared to be marijuana into a red Buick near Casa Grande. When deputies arrived in the area, they were told the suspect vehicle had left the area, but it was soon located nearby and deputies initiated a traffic stop.

The driver stopped the vehicle, but when deputies exited their cruiser, the driver accelerated quickly and stopped the vehicle about 200 yards away. Three men jumped out and all were apprehended within a short time.

Deputies located 10 bundles of marijuana in the vehicle with an estimated value of $202,725.

All three men admitted to being in the country illegally. One man, Obeth R. Aldaco-Pinuelos, told deputies he was a juvenile. However, it was later determined that Aldaco-Pinuelos was an adult who had been deported five times in the past two years.